1988 NSWRL season
1988 New South Wales Rugby League premiership | |
---|---|
Teams | 16 |
Premiers | Canterbury-Bankstown (6th title) |
Minor premiers | Cronulla-Sutherland (1st title) |
Matches played | 183 |
Points scored | 6559 |
Attendance | 1966658 |
Top points scorer(s) | Gary Belcher (218) |
Player of the year | Barry Russell (Rothmans Medal) |
Top try-scorer(s) | John Ferguson (20) |
The 1988 NSWRL season was the 81st season of professional
Season summary
1988 was the year of the Australian Bicentenary celebrations, and on 4 March, the season opened with the first game of rugby league played at the newly built Sydney Football Stadium.[1] The St. George Dragons defeated the Eastern Suburbs Roosters 24–14. Easts and South Sydney would use the SFS as their home venue from 1988. This saw the end of both the Sydney Sports Ground (which closed due to the building of the SFS) and Redfern Oval as regular venues.
The brand new
Eventual grand finalists the
The 1988 season's
Twenty-two regular season rounds were played in total from March till August, with Cronulla-Sutherland winning their first ever minor premiership since joining the competition in 1967. Penrith and Balmain finished on equal points in fifth place and played each other for the place in the top five, alongside Cronulla, Canterbury, Canberra and Manly.
The grand finals;
- Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs vs Balmain Tigers (Senior Grade)
- Eastern Suburbs vs Manly Sea Eagles (Reserve Grade)
- Under 21s team vs Under 21s (Under 21s Grade)
The Tests;
The State of Origin;
Teams
This season saw the premiership's first expansion since
Advertising
1988 saw the NSWRL move their advertising account from John Singleton Advertising to Hertz Walpole Advertising. There was initially however no shift in the prior campaign direction. For the second year running a visual and vocal performance by Australian rock journeyman John "Swanee" Swan was used. Swanee recorded a purpose-written jingle entitled "The Greatest Game of All" and a rock-clip style ad was shot on a stage setting with smoke, lights and fireworks. The performance footage was interspersed with game action.
Five years later Swan's younger brother Jimmy Barnes would also feature in an NSWRL season advertisement performing alongside Tina Turner.
Regular season
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | GF |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Balmain Tigers | NOR +20 |
PAR −20 |
NEW −4 |
WES +3 |
MAN +2 |
PEN −10 |
BRI +8 |
STG +8 |
SOU −9 |
CBY +11 |
CRO −2 |
EAS +10 |
GCG +14 |
CAN −24 |
ILA +12 |
NOR +10 |
PAR +16 |
NEW +2 |
WES +6 |
MAN −4 |
PEN +2 |
BRI +10 |
PEN +20 |
MAN +13 |
CAN +8 |
CRO +7 |
CBY −12 |
Brisbane Broncos | MAN +34 |
PEN +2 |
WES +34 |
NOR +12 |
PAR +6 |
NEW +14 |
BAL −8 |
CRO −30 |
EAS +4 |
GCG −3 |
CAN −20 |
ILA +22 |
STG +4 |
SOU −12 |
CBY −15 |
MAN +18 |
PEN +2 |
WES +26 |
NOR +18 |
PAR −8 |
NEW +16 |
BAL −10 |
|||||
Canberra Raiders | ILA +20 |
STG +24 |
SOU +28 |
CBY −5 |
CRO +18 |
EAS +36 |
GCG +44 |
PAR −28 |
WES +14 |
NOR −8 |
BRI +20 |
PEN −6 |
MAN −6 |
BAL +24 |
NEW +18 |
ILA +9 |
STG +16 |
SOU +33 |
CBY −7 |
CRO −22 |
EAS +8 |
GCG +20 |
X | CBY −1 |
BAL −8 |
||
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | GCG +11 |
CRO +4 |
EAS +4 |
CAN +5 |
ILA −6 |
STG +14 |
SOU +4 |
PEN +6 |
MAN −18 |
BAL −11 |
NEW +18 |
PAR +28 |
WES +25 |
NOR −12 |
BRI +15 |
GCG +15 |
CRO −8 |
EAS +15 |
CAN +7 |
ILA +6 |
STG +26 |
SOU −4 |
X | CAN +1 |
CRO +18 |
X | BAL +12 |
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | SOU −1 |
CBY −4 |
GCG +1 |
EAS 0 |
CAN −18 |
ILA +18 |
STG +16 |
BRI +30 |
PEN +22 |
MAN −14 |
BAL +2 |
NEW 0 |
PAR +5 |
WES +36 |
NOR +4 |
SOU +2 |
CBY +8 |
GCG +20 |
EAS +18 |
CAN +22 |
ILA +8 |
STG +2 |
X | X | CBY −18 |
BAL −7 |
|
Eastern Suburbs Roosters | STG −10 |
SOU −2 |
CBY −4 |
CRO 0 |
GCG +18 |
CAN −36 |
ILA −4 |
NOR 0 |
BRI −4 |
PEN +22 |
MAN +4 |
BAL −10 |
NEW +16 |
PAR −4 |
WES 0 |
STG +21 |
SOU −25 |
CBY −15 |
CRO −18 |
GCG +24 |
CAN −8 |
ILA −21 |
|||||
Gold Coast-Tweed Giants | CBY −11 |
ILA 0 |
CRO −1 |
STG −8 |
EAS −18 |
SOU −12 |
CAN −44 |
WES −20 |
NOR −4 |
BRI +3 |
PEN −35 |
MAN −28 |
BAL −14 |
NEW +9 |
PAR +3 |
CBY −15 |
ILA +15 |
CRO −20 |
STG −2 |
EAS −24 |
SOU 0 |
CAN −20 |
|||||
Illawarra Steelers | CAN −20 |
GCG 0 |
STG +16 |
SOU −13 |
CBY +6 |
CRO −18 |
EAS +4 |
NEW +8 |
PAR −22 |
WES +16 |
NOR −29 |
BRI −22 |
PEN −34 |
MAN −16 |
BAL −12 |
CAN −9 |
GCG −15 |
STG −2 |
SOU −2 |
CBY −6 |
CRO −8 |
EAS +21 |
|||||
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | BRI −34 |
NOR +26 |
PAR +52 |
NEW +32 |
BAL −2 |
WES +20 |
PEN −22 |
SOU −14 |
CBY +18 |
CRO +14 |
EAS −4 |
GCG +28 |
CAN +6 |
ILA +16 |
STG +16 |
BRI −18 |
NOR +4 |
PAR +30 |
NEW +8 |
BAL +4 |
WES −3 |
PEN +14 |
X | BAL −13 |
|||
Newcastle Knights | PAR −24 |
WES +4 |
BAL +4 |
MAN −32 |
PEN −6 |
BRI −14 |
NOR −34 |
ILA −8 |
STG −12 |
SOU +7 |
CBY −18 |
CRO 0 |
EAS −16 |
GCG −9 |
CAN −18 |
PAR +1 |
WES −10 |
BAL −2 |
MAN −8 |
PEN −11 |
BRI −16 |
NOR +32 |
|||||
North Sydney Bears | BAL −20 |
MAN −26 |
PEN −27 |
BRI −12 |
WES +7 |
PAR +4 |
NEW +34 |
EAS 0 |
GCG +4 |
CAN +8 |
ILA +29 |
STG −8 |
SOU 0 |
CBY +12 |
CRO −4 |
BAL −10 |
MAN −4 |
PEN −5 |
BRI −18 |
WES +4 |
PAR +6 |
NEW −32 |
|||||
Parramatta Eels | NEW +24 |
BAL +20 |
MAN −52 |
PEN −2 |
BRI −6 |
NOR −4 |
WES −2 |
CAN +28 |
ILA +22 |
STG −12 |
SOU +8 |
CBY −28 |
CRO −5 |
EAS +4 |
GCG −3 |
NEW −1 |
BAL −16 |
MAN −30 |
PEN −4 |
BRI +8 |
NOR −6 |
WES +4 |
|||||
Penrith Panthers | WES +20 |
BRI −2 |
NOR +27 |
PAR +2 |
NEW +6 |
BAL +10 |
MAN +22 |
CBY −6 |
CRO −22 |
EAS −22 |
GCG +35 |
CAN +6 |
ILA +34 |
STG +4 |
SOU +8 |
WES +12 |
BRI −2 |
NOR +5 |
PAR +4 |
NEW +11 |
BAL −2 |
MAN −14 |
BAL −20 |
||||
South Sydney Rabbitohs | CRO +1 |
EAS +2 |
CAN −28 |
ILA +13 |
STG +32 |
GCG +12 |
CBY −4 |
MAN +14 |
BAL +9 |
NEW −7 |
PAR −8 |
WES +8 |
NOR 0 |
BRI +12 |
PEN −8 |
CRO −2 |
EAS +25 |
CAN −33 |
ILA +2 |
STG −2 |
GCG 0 |
CBY +4 |
|||||
St. George Dragons | EAS +10 |
CAN −24 |
ILA −16 |
GCG +8 |
SOU −32 |
CBY −14 |
CRO −16 |
BAL −8 |
NEW +12 |
PAR +12 |
WES +2 |
NOR +8 |
BRI −4 |
PEN −4 |
MAN −16 |
EAS −21 |
CAN −16 |
ILA +2 |
GCG +2 |
SOU +2 |
CBY −26 |
CRO −2 |
|||||
Western Suburbs Magpies | PEN −20 |
NEW −4 |
BRI −34 |
BAL −3 |
NOR −7 |
MAN −20 |
PAR +2 |
GCG +20 |
CAN −14 |
ILA −16 |
STG −2 |
SOU −8 |
CBY −25 |
CRO −36 |
EAS 0 |
PEN −12 |
NEW +10 |
BRI −26 |
BAL −6 |
NOR −4 |
MAN +3 |
PAR −4 |
|||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | F1 | F2 | F3 | F4 | GF |
Bold – Home game
X – Bye
Opponent for round listed above margin
Ladder
Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 507 | 330 | +177 | 34 |
2 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (P) | 22 | 16 | 0 | 6 | 412 | 268 | +144 | 32 |
3 | Canberra Raiders | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 596 | 346 | +250 | 30 |
4 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
|
22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 538 | 347 | +191 | 30 |
5 | Penrith Panthers | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 394 | 258 | +136 | 30 |
6 | Balmain Tigers | 22 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 402 | 341 | +61 | 30 |
7 | Brisbane Broncos | 22 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 474 | 368 | +106 | 28 |
8 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 22 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 425 | 383 | +42 | 24 |
9 | North Sydney Bears | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 366 | 424 | −58 | 20 |
10 | St. George Dragons | 22 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 352 | 493 | −141 | 18 |
11 | Parramatta Eels | 22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 359 | 412 | −53 | 16 |
12 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | 22 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 387 | 443 | −56 | 15 |
13 | Illawarra Steelers | 22 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 353 | 510 | −157 | 13 |
14 | Newcastle Knights | 22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 270 | 460 | −190 | 11 |
15 | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants | 22 | 4 | 2 | 16 | 238 | 484 | −246 | 10 |
16 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 287 | 493 | −206 | 9 |
- South Sydney were stripped of 2 competition points due to an illegal replacement in one game.
Ladder progression
- Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 5.
- Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
- Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished last place on the ladder in that round.
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 34 |
2 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 32 |
3 | Canberra Raiders | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 |
4 | Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 30 |
5 | Penrith Panthers | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
6 | Balmain Tigers | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 30 |
7 | Brisbane Broncos | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 28 |
8 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 24 |
9 | North Sydney Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 |
10 | St. George Dragons | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 |
11 | Parramatta Eels | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 16 |
12 | Eastern Suburbs Roosters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
13 | Illawarra Steelers | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
14 | Newcastle Knights | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 |
15 | Gold Coast-Tweed Giants | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
16 | Western Suburbs Magpies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 |
Finals
Balmain had staged a gripping charge for the final five, winning nine of their last eleven games including five in a row to leave them in equal fifth spot with the Penrith Panthers at the regular season's end. They then won four sudden death finals to make it to the Grand final.
Home | Score | Away | Match Information | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date and Time | Venue | Referee | Crowd | |||||
Playoff | ||||||||
Penrith Panthers | 8–28 | Balmain Tigers | 16 August 1988 | Parramatta Stadium | Mick Stone | 14,206 | ||
Qualifying Finals | ||||||||
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
|
6–19 | Balmain Tigers | 20 August 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone | 25,327 | ||
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 19–18 | Canberra Raiders | 21 August 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Graham Annesley | 19,259 | ||
Semi-finals | ||||||||
Canberra Raiders | 6–14 | Balmain Tigers | 27 August 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone | 28,879 | ||
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 8–26 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 28 August 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Graham Annesley | 31,684 | ||
Preliminary final | ||||||||
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 2–9 | Balmain Tigers | 4 September 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone | 34,848 | ||
Grand final | ||||||||
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24–12 | Balmain Tigers | 11 September 1988 | Sydney Football Stadium | Mick Stone | 40,000 |
Chart
Grand final
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Position | Balmain Tigers |
---|---|---|
FB | ||
2. Glen Nissen | WG | 2. Russell Gartner
|
3. Tony Currie | CE | 3. Ellery Hanley |
4. Andrew Farrar | CE | 4. Michael Pobjie |
5. Robin Thorne |
WG | 5. Ross Conlon |
6. Terry Lamb | FE | 6. Mick Neil |
7. Michael Hagan | HB | 7. Gary Freeman |
13. Paul Dunn | PR | 13. Bruce McGuire |
12. Joe Thomas | HK | 12. Benny Elias |
11. Peter Tunks (c) | PR | 11. Kerry Hemsley |
10. David Gillespie | SR | 10. Paul Sironen |
9. Steve Folkes | SR | 9. David Brooks |
8. Paul Langmack | LK |
8. Wayne Pearce (c) |
14. Mark Bugden | Bench | 14. Scott Gale |
15. Brandon Lee | Bench | 18. Kevin Hardwick |
18. Steve Mortimer | Bench | 19. Steve Edmed |
23. Darren McCarthy | Bench | |
Phil Gould | Coach | Warren Ryan |
This was the first grand final not to be played at the
The
After five minutes Peter Tunks was sent to the sin bin for ten minutes for treading on Ben Elias. The first points of the match were scored shortly after from Terry Lamb's successful penalty kick. Another penalty kick from Lamb put the Bulldogs in front 4 nil. However Balmain grabbed the first try an Elias put up a bomb and was first to the ball ahead of Bulldog Jason Alchin. Conlon's conversion from in front gave the Tigers the lead for first time at 6–4.[4]
A highly controversial tackle by Terry Lamb put Balmain's in form British import Ellery Hanley out of the game before the 30-minute mark had been reached.[5] Hanley staggered off, heavily concussed, with the score at 6–4. Under the rules of the time, Hanley was allowed 10 minutes to recover in the head bin. If he could not return he would need to be replaced. He returned just before half-time and stood, out-of-sorts, on the wing. The Bulldogs then ran in a 70-metre try from broken play and went to the break with a lead of 10–8.
Hanley did not return after half-time and the Bulldogs started to dominate. A great Canterbury team try to Michael Hagan sealed the match. Bruce McGuire scored Balmain's second try late in the match although the outcome was already clear. The match ended on a sentimental note when Gould called the Bulldogs' representative star, former captain and 271-game veteran, Steve Mortimer to the sideline. He was less than fully fit and had his arm heavily padded to protect the wrist he had broken early in the season. However Mortimer had been named as a fresh reserve as tribute to his previous club contributions and the match ended with him moving to dummy half and taking the ball up for the last time.
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24
Tries: Nissen, Hagan, Gillespie, Lamb
Goals: Lamb 4
Balmain Tigers 12
Tries: Elias, McGuire
Goals: Conlon 2
Clive Churchill Medal: Paul Dunn (Canterbury)[6]
Player statistics
The following statistics are as of the conclusion of Round 22.
Top 5 point scorers
Top 5 try scorers
|
Top 5 goal scorers
|
1988 Transfers
Players
Coaches
Coach | 1987 Club | 1988 Club |
---|---|---|
Wayne Bennett | Canberra Raiders | Brisbane Broncos |
Warren Ryan | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | Balmain Tigers |
Tim Sheens | Penrith Panthers | Canberra Raiders |
References
- ^ "Sydney Football Stadium Magic Moments". sydneycricketground.com.au. Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
- ^ Paul Tait & Heather Smith (1 September 1988). "Cool Russell is ready to shoulder the burden for Sharks". The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia: Fairfax. p. 50. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
- Australian Rugby League. Archived from the originalon 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
- ^ Weidler, Danny (11 September 1988). "Minutes that mattered". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Digital. p. 3. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
- ^ Coady, Ben (28 September 2009). "Grand final dramas". WA Today. Australia: Fairfax Digital. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2010.
- ^ D'Souza, Miguel. "Grand Final History". wwos.ninemsn.com.au. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.